Carlos V. Francisco was one of the greatest Filipino visual artists and muralists. He was posthumously recognized as a Philippine National Artist by the government in 1973. He was affectionately called "Botong" by his family and friends.

Early life and career

Francisco was born on November 4, 1914 in Angono, Rizal. His parents were Felipe Francisco and Maria Villaluz. His hometown featured prominently in his paintings and murals, and he commemorated many rural scenes and town folk in his composition.

Botong came from very humble beginnings. In the early years he struggled even to acquire canvases to paint on. Together with Galo Ocampo and Victorio C. Edades, he formed the first group of modernists in Philippine art called "The Triumvirate", which struggled to break free from the cliched traditionalism of realist art pioneered by Fernando Amorsolo.

Botong is also known for discovering the Angono Petroglyphs, which are considered the oldest prehistoric artwork. This paleolithic art consists of 127 human and animal figures that are estimated to date back to 3000 BC. Presidential Decree 260 was issued in 1996 and declared the petroglyphs a national cultural treasure. The National Museum established a museum on its site.

He was posthumously conferred the title National Artist of the Philippines in Visual Arts in 1973. He died on March 31, 1969, leaving a rich legacy and a new generation of followers. On November 4, 1975, the town of Angono, Rizal, held an exhibit titled "Gunita Kay Botong." The event became an annual institution and was widely followed to the point that Angono became the unofficial art capital of the Philippines.